NSF CREST/HBCU-RISE/PRP PI Meeting

Supported by U.S. National Science Foundation: Award No. 2434130, Award No. 2112650, Award No. 1914777, Award No. 2112554

Dear NSF CREST/HBCU-RISE/PRP Program Attendees,

On behalf of the NSF CREST Center II for Advanced Functional Materials (CAFM), at California State University, San Bernardino, and NSF CREST Center for Advancement Toward Sustainable Urban Systems (CATSUS), at California State University, Los Angeles, it is our pleasure to welcome you to the second NSF CREST/HBCU-RISE/PRP PI Meeting. We are honored to host this gathering of professionals, researchers, educators, and students.

As highlighted at the inaugural NSF CREST/HBCU-RISE/PRP PI Meeting, hosted by UTRGV, having a dedicated venue where principal investigators, directors, faculty, administrators, staff, and students can meet and discuss relevant topics and issues, share best practices, and network, is essential to the success and sustainability of these impactful programs. To support this effort, NSF awarded a three-year pilot conference grant in 2024, to bring together NSF Program Officers and Staff - who manage these programs - with the university personnel – who run these programs at their institutions. UTRGV hosted the inaugural meeting of this series in November 2024, with California State University, San Bernardino, and California State University, Los Angeles, being the co-hosts of the 2025 meeting, and University of District of Columbia set to host the 2026 meeting.

The California State University (CSU) system is the largest four-year public university system in the nation. The CSU system provides students with essential opportunities to gain upward mobility by offering access to affordable, high-quality education. Serving every region of California, from Humboldt to San Diego, the CSU system offers more than 4,000 degree-programs that are aligned with providing the knowledge and skills students needed to succeed in today’s workforce. CSU students benefit from hands-on learning experiences that drive innovation and social impact, enriching their education and preparing them to lead in a rapidly evolving world.

California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB) is committed to fostering the professional, ethical, and intellectual development of its diverse student body, faculty, and staff, aiming to empower them to thrive and contribute positively to a globally connected society. The university's mission emphasizes active learning, effective mentoring, impactful scholarship, and civic engagement. As of Fall 2024, CSUSB enrolls approximately 17,900 students, with a significant majority—88% of underrepresented minorities (URMs). The student population is predominantly Hispanic, comprising about 70% of the student body, followed by 10% Caucasian, 6% Asian, and 5% African American students. With more than 78% of students from families with parents without college degrees and 54% of students receiving Federal Pell grants, CSUSB build’s opportunities for citizens in Southern California’s Inland Empire while enhancing the region’s economy.

California State University, Los Angeles (Cal State LA or CSULA), is ranked #1 in the U.S. for upward mobility, reflecting the university’s strong commitment to fostering academic success and expanding opportunities for students from all backgrounds. As a recently designated Carnegie R2 research university, Cal State LA takes pride in its progress in research, student achievement, and community engagement. The university is dedicated to nurturing students’ unique talents and intellect through high-quality learning, teaching, and research experiences that support their overall success. Cal State LA serves a predominantly underrepresented student population in the greater Los Angeles area, with 75% Hispanic, 10% Asian, and 4.2% Black students. Among its student body, 55% are first-generation college students, 65% receive Pell Grants, and 77% are full-time, degree-seeking students. As of Spring 2025, Cal State LA has an enrollment of more than 44,900 students.

The NSF Center II CAFM is committed to advancing the development of novel functional materials and deepening the understanding of their structure–function relationships. The center also aims to enhance educational and professional development opportunities for faculty and students across multiple sites through collaborative efforts. This vision is achieved by strengthening research mentoring, expanding student recruitment and mentoring, with a focus on supporting women in research, while advancing the prediction, synthesis, and evaluation of functional materials to enable practical applications. As part of the CREST II project, the Center recently launched an interdisciplinary MS Materials Science degree program. This effort will help Inland Southern California students advance their learning, complete experiential work and research in materials science, and advance their Entrepreneurial mindsets.

The NSF CREST CATSUS Center is a multidisciplinary initiative focused on improving the efficiency of existing energy technologies and advancing emerging alternatives that reduce reliance on fossil fuels, by preparing students to make lasting, wide-ranging contributions to the development of materials and technologies that support sustainable access to energy and water for urban systems. Through transformative research, the center promotes energy diversity, efficiency, and sustainability while training the next generation of scientists and engineers to lead progress in this field. The center's vision is to expand opportunities for Cal State LA students to pursue advanced degrees and careers in STEM by combining rigorous education with cutting-edge research.

We are delighted to host this year’s meeting, which aims to be both engaging and impactful. Our goal is to foster an environment that encourages meaningful discussion, collaboration, and networking. We sincerely thank our research partners, sponsors, and all attendees for their continued support and participation. We look forward to a productive and inspiring gathering in a welcoming, collaborative setting.

Finally, we would like to take this opportunity to thank our collaborators on this grant, Constantine Tarawneh (PI), Pawan Tyagi (co-PI), and Maria Tamargo (co-PI), the wonderful team from (1) UTRGV - Gabriela Cantu, Manuela Cantu, and Carlos Pena-Caballero, (2) CSUSB - Maureen Murphy and Irene Carrasco, and (3) Cal State LA - Christina Dhoj, Hailey Ninh, Karolina Bielec and Manjeet Khanna. Lastly, we want to thank our NSF Program Officers, Luis Cubano and Regina Sievert. This event would not have been possible without the outstanding dedication and commitment of this wonderful group of professionals.

Bienvenidos and Welcome,
Kimberley Cousins & Arturo Pacheco-Vega
NSF CREST II CAFM and NSF CREST CATSUS Directors

Registration for this meeting is free of charge. Please use the following link to complete your registration: https://secure.touchnet.net/C20545_ustores/web/product_detail.jsp?PRODUCTID=8058&SINGLESTORE=true 

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Lodging

The DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport is the primary conference hotel with a promotional rate of $206/night after tax

• A link for this rate will be provided in the confirmation email once registration is complete
• August 18-19, 2025
• Hotel Address: 222 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, California, United States, 91764
• Hotel Phone Number: 877-504-5386

Travel Information

Ontario International Airport (ONT), Address: 2500 E Airport Dr, Ontario, CA 91761, Phone number: (909) 937-1240, Airlines: American, Delta, United, Southwest



DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Ontario Airport, Hotel Address: 222 N Vineyard Ave, Ontario, California, United States, 91764, Hotel Phone Number: 877-504-5386
Bus begins from Doubletree Ontario to CSUSB campus (will continue round trip approximately every 1.5 hours)



Should you have any questions, need additional information, or special accommodations, please contact the CREST MECIS at (956) 665-3070 or send an email to [email protected] or [email protected]

CSUSB Contact Info:
Maureen Murphy (Administrative Support Coordinator)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (909) 537-5397
Irene Carrasco (Administrative Support Coordinator)
- Email: [email protected]
- Phone: (909) 537-5334
Website: https://www.csusb.edu/center-advanced-functional-materials  

CATSUS Contact Info:
Email: [email protected] 
Phone: (323) 343 5399
Website: https://www.calstatela.edu/research/catsus
LinkedIn: NSF-CREST-CATSUS LinkedIn

MECIS Contact Info:
Email: [email protected]
Phone: (956) 665-3070 
Phone Alt: (956) 665-8878 
Website: https://www.utrgv.edu/mecis/